Airports

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the aviation industry regarding capacity at airports around London in the past six months.

Earl Attlee: The Government have regular discussions with the aviation industry and other stakeholders on a range of aviation issues.

Armed Forces: Aircraft

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is expected that the last aircraft carrier currently planned will be commissioned; what will be the interim capacity arrangements; and if no interim capacity arrangements are to be put in place, why aircraft carrier capability is considered necessary.

Lord Astor of Hever: Before the strategic defence and security review (SDSR), the planned in-service dates for HMS "Queen Elizabeth" and HMS "Prince of Wales" were quarter 4 of 2016 and quarter 4 of 2018 respectively. The SDSR called for one operational "Queen Elizabeth"-class carrier to be converted with catapults and arrestor gear to enable it to operate the more capable carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, with the other being held at extended readiness pending a further decision on its future at the next SDSR in 2015. We are currently investigating the optimum solution to meet that requirement including the delivery timescales.
	There is a strategic requirement for a future carrier-strike capability. The "Invincible"-class carriers were designed principally to meet Cold War threats on the high seas, with short-range jets providing air defence for a naval task group. It is assessed that expeditionary airpower can be delivered through other means in the short term, but the period after 2020 remains far less certain, which is why the Government have decided that a modern carrier capability will be required to protect the full range of UK strategic interests. This capability will give the UK long-term political flexibility to act without depending, at times of regional tension, on agreement from other countries to use their bases for any mission we want to undertake. It will also give us in-built military flexibility to adapt our approach over the 50 years of the carrier's working life. In particular, it provides options for a coercive response to crises, as a complement or alternative to ground engagements. It contributes to an overall force structure geared towards helping deter or contain threats from relatively well equipped regional powers, as well as dealing with insurgencies and non-state actors in failing states.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers have arrived from Eritrea in each of the past five years and in total over those years; what are the major reasons given by them for seeking asylum; what are the routes of entry to the United Kingdom used by such nationals; and how many had been granted an entry visa before arrival.

Lord Henley: The following table contains the number of main asylum applicants who are nationals of Eritrea who have applied for asylum between 2006 and 2010. It also shows the number of nationals of Eritrea who, through matching of the databases used for the processing of asylum and visa applications, have been identified as being issued with an entry clearance visa and subsequently applying for asylum.
	
		
			 Asylum applications for main applicants, nationals of Eritrea 
			 Year Total asylum applications Main asylum applicants who can be identified as issued with an entry clearance visa 
			 2006 2,583 35 
			 2007 1,809 38 
			 2008 2,257 53 
			 2009 1,349 48 
			 2010 711 50 
			 Total 8,709 224 
		
	
	Note
	2010 asylum data are provisional
	Total asylum applications are National Statistics
	Numbers of asylum applicants who can be identified as issued with an entry clearance visa are management information and have not been quality assured to the level of National Statistics.
	Data on individuals applying for asylum who have had a visa issued have been produced by data matching of the databases used for visa and asylum application processing. This process may not capture all individuals applying for asylum who have been issued with a visa. This may give variable results as it may not capture all individuals.
	Information on the reasons given for the asylum application could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the routes of entry to the UK used by Eritrean nationals who apply for asylum is not available for most individuals and partial information could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	Data on asylum and visa applications are available in the asylum and before entry tables of the quarterly immigration statistics. The latest release, Immigration Statistics July-September 2011, is available in the Library of the House and the Home Office Science website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/.

Banking: Levy

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an assessment of how much of the bank levy will be absorbed by banks, and how much will be passed on to customers.

Lord Sassoon: Information on the expected impacts of the bank levy was published as part of the March Budget, in the relevant tax information and impact note.
	A link to the document is given here: http://www.hmrc. gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6123.pdf.

Businesses: Rural Areas

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many businesses registered in a rural area for the first time in each year from 2000; how many of those were new start-ups; and how many were relocations from an urban area.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Baroness Byford, dated December 2011.
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many businesses registered in a rural area for the first time in each year from 2000; how many of those were new start-ups; and how many were relocations from an urban area. (HL13946)
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available from the ONS release on business demography at www.statistics.gov.uk. However, unfortunately statistics on registration by rural area and relocation are not available.

Credit Cards: Fraud

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 15 November (WA 125), what assessment they have made of the contribution of chip and PIN technology in reducing credit and debit card fraud.

Lord Henley: Chip and PIN was introduced by the banking and retail sectors to tackle fraud on lost or stolen cards, and fraud on counterfeit cards. Figures released by the payments industry in March 2011 showed that lost and stolen card fraud had fallen in six consecutive years and was standing at £44.4 million, the lowest level since the industry began collating fraud figures. Counterfeit card fraud had also fallen and was at its lowest level since 1999. The industry suggests that there will have been a number of contributory factors to these falls, one of which is the effect of chip and PIN.

Democracy

Lord Boswell of Aynho: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take while holding the chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to encourage the development and extension of the Partnerships for Democracy programme of that organisation to involve adjacent states emerging from non-democratic government.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Partners for Democracy is a programme recently established by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and is a valuable tool for spreading Council of Europe values and standards. PACE has so far accorded Partner for Democracy status to Morocco and the Palestinian National Council. We will continue to support the Council of Europe's policy towards its neighbouring regions during our chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.

Democracy

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what role a country having a democratic process has in the decision to recognise it.

Lord Howell of Guildford: My Written Answer of 2 February (Official Report, col. WA266) set out the criteria for recognition of states. This is separate from the question of whether a country has a democratic process.

Egypt

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are making representations to the Government of Egypt in favour of presidential elections on the earliest possible date, and civilian control over the Egyptian defence forces.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 24 November and indicated that we wished to see a democratically elected civilian-led Government as soon as possible. We believe that the parliamentary elections must be followed swiftly by a new constitution and presidential elections, in line with the wishes of the Egyptian people. The Supreme Council for the Armed Forces has announced that presidential elections will take place in June 2012.
	We have not raised the issue of control of the Egyptian defence forces.

EU: Interest Rate Swaps

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they propose to respond to the proposal from the European Central Bank that clearance of euro-denominated over-the-counter interest rate swaps must take place through a central counter-party in the eurozone rather than elsewhere in the European Union.

Lord Sassoon: The European Central Bank's (ECB) Standards for the Use of Central Counterparties in Eurosystem Foreign Reserve Management Operations (November 2011) does not require that all over-the-counter (OTC) interest rate swaps must be cleared through central clearing counterparties (CCPs) located in the euro area. Instead, it sets out standards that CCPs need to meet in order for the ECB/Eurosystem to consider them eligible to support the ECB/Eurosystem's OTC derivative transactions (in particular interest rate swaps) in their foreign reserve management operations.
	These standards potentially entail that only CCPs located in the euro area will be eligible to support such ECB/Euroystem transactions. The Government are currently considering how to respond to the ECB's Standards for the Use of Central Counterparties in Eurosystem Foreign Reserve Management Operations (November 2011).

Finance: Discount Rate

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what rate of interest they use to discount future revenues and benefits from capital projects and in infrastructure expenditure evaluation; and what is the current cost of capital to the United Kingdom.

Lord Sassoon: The Green Book discount rate remains at 3.5 per cent as set in 2003. This is the social time preference rate and does not equate to the Government's market cost of capital.
	The Government's cost of capital varies over time and according to the means of financing used. The Debt Management Office publishes the average yield of gilt issuance on an annual basis. The average yield of gilt issuance in 2010-11 was 3.340 per cent.
	More information on discount rates can be found in the Green Book at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_greenbook_index.htm.

Finance: Fraud

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what work they are undertaking with the banking and financial services industry to reduce instances of fraud at cash machines.

Lord Henley: The Government work closely with industry bodies on fraud issues. Home Office Ministers and officials meet routinely with representatives from the payment card industry. The banking industry, machine suppliers and the police all work to tackle cash machine fraud through enhanced technical solutions and enforcement activity against criminal groups who are responsible for this type of fraud.
	Industry figures show that cash machine fraud has fallen by 56 per cent since 2004.

Finance: Fraud

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of preventative measures put in place by the banking and financial services industry to combat fraud in relation to the non-receipt of mail.

Lord Henley: The Government have not assessed industry measures to combat mail non-receipt fraud but work closely with industry bodies on fraud issues overall. Home Office Ministers and officials meet routinely with representatives from the payment card industry.
	Industry figures show that mail non-receipt fraud increased in 2010 by 22 per cent over the previous year. It is 88 per cent lower than at its height in 2004. The payments industry assesses that it is likely that the increase in 2010 was caused by a particularly high level of new and replacement cards being issued.

Firearms: Home Office Firearms Forms Working Group

Lord Dear: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Home Office Firearms Forms Working Group last met, and when it is next expected to meet.

Lord Henley: The working group last met formally on 16 March 2010 when a number of changes were proposed ahead of the application forms being trialled. As a result of the trials a number of other changes have been suggested and it is hoped to arrange a meeting in January to agree the final format.

Government Departments: Buildings

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to install photovoltaic solar systems on buildings owned or occupied by the Wales Office.

Lord Wallace of Tankerness: The Wales Office occupies a grade 2* listed building on Whitehall and leases office space in Cardiff, and it is not practicable to install photovoltaic solar systems on these buildings.

Government Departments: Buildings

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are sufficient work stations and telephone extensions for all Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff stationed in King Charles Street and the Old Admiralty Building; and, if not, what percentage of staff are catered for.

Lord Howell of Guildford: All Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff have access to workstations (desktop computers and/or laptops) and telephone extensions. Recent enhancements of the FCO's Firecrest IT system and increasing use of Firecrest BlackBerry has meant that a growing number of FCO staff have the opportunity to work more flexibly. The FCO will continue to promote flexible and remote working through better use of existing IT and faster and better global telephony and video conferencing services.

Government Departments: Procurement

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportions, in terms of value, of Government Procurement Service contracts have been awarded to small businesses in the past year.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: As of 30 September 2011, 469 small businesses were appointed prime suppliers on the Government Procurement Service's framework agreements. Spend attributed to these small businesses so far for the financial year 2011-12 was £96,146,200.71.

Government Departments: Procurement

Lord Prescott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the (1) date of purchase, (2) amount, (3) supplier and (4) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry of each transaction undertaken by the Ministry of Defence using the Government procurement card in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09, (d) 2009-10, and (e) 2010-11.

Lord Astor of Hever: This Government are committed to transparency and we believe the information regarding government procurement cards for this financial year is the most relevant.
	During October we began to publish information on transactions over £500 for 2011-12 for the Ministry of Defence on our website and will continue to do so, on a monthly basis: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/ AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/ModSpend/.
	Information on transactions over £500 for 2010-11 will be published by the end of March 2012.
	The cost of work required to obtain, contextualise and report data for central government departments from the previous three years, or regarding those transactions under £500, would exceed the cost limits of a freedom of information request or a Parliamentary Question.

Government Departments: Staff

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants are paid as departmental trade union side staff in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Justice, and HM Revenue and Customs; and what was the cost in each of those departments in terms of pay, time off and facilities for those staff last year.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Cabinet Office did not collect centrally the information requested for the last financial year. However, the Government intend to commence consultation shortly with the nationally recognised Civil Service trade unions on facility time. The aim of the consultation is to introduce a new framework for the provision of facility time and time off for trade union activities in the Civil Service. To ensure transparency about the union facility time for which government departments are paying, we will also publish information relating to Civil Service trade union representatives and the amount of paid time that is being spent on union work, as well as the overall percentage of the pay bill this accounts for.

Higher Education: Overseas Students

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 28 November (WA 23), why non-European Union students coming to United Kingdom higher educational institutions and publicly funded further education colleges to study below university level are not considered likely to be motivated by the opportunity to continue in work; what assessment they have made of the number of unemployed young British people who would take up the positions vacated by such students if permission were withdrawn; and how many non-European Union students were granted visas last year.

Lord Henley: There are high rates of compliance among students at higher educational institutions and publicly funded further education colleges so the Government are satisfied that their primary motivation is to study not work.
	The assumption made in the impact assessment is that there is zero replacement. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is undertaking a review of the impact; this may enable revised estimates.
	253,993 non-European Union students were granted visas in 2010.

Housing

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the effect on the pool of social housing of increasing the discounts for purchases by sitting tenants; whether the pool will be reduced; and why they are taking that action.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis they expect to be able to replace each social housing unit sold with a new one elsewhere.

Baroness Hanham: This Government want to help people to meet their aspiration for home ownership by making right-to-buy discounts more attractive to tenants across England. Unlike the previous right-to-buy scheme, the receipts generated by the sales will be used not only to pay down the debt associated with that property but also to fund the delivery of new affordable homes on a one-for-one basis.
	We will be consulting shortly on the best way to ensure delivery of replacement homes across England.

Infrastructure Investment

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have estimated the cost of capital used by private sector financiers of infrastructure projects against the cost to them of capital for infrastructure projects; and what were the results.

Lord Sassoon: Table A.1 on page 45 of the National Infrastructure Plan 2010 set out estimates of the cost of capital for various infrastructure funding models. This is available on the HM Treasury website at the link below: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/ nationalinfrastructureplan251010.pdf.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the International Court of Justice is able to take cognisance of any future withholding of Palestinian taxes and customs receipts by Israel.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The United Nations (UN) Security Council or UN General Assembly may ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on any legal question. It is therefore possible that the court may be asked a legal question relating to this issue.

Justice: Legal Fees

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will seek to deduct the court costs involved in Mr Joseph Memer's 20 convictions for criminal offences and any legitimate imprisonment costs from the damages awarded in the High Court and due to be paid to him for unlawful imprisonment between January and May 2011; and whether they have ascertained his real name and country of origin.

Lord Henley: Under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 the court can order that a convicted defendant pay the costs of the prosecution where it is "just and reasonable to do so". However any such order would require costs to be paid to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is legally separate from the UK Border Agency (UKBA). As a result it is not possible to deduct amounts that are owed to the CPS from the amount that the UKBA is required to pay in damages as a result of the successful legal challenge to detention.
	It is possible to offset, against any award of damages, any outstanding debts an individual may otherwise owe the person paying the damages. However, the legislation governing immigration detention makes no provision for the payment by the detained persons of any of the costs of detention. Accordingly, the individual has no debt owing to UKBA in respect of that detention.
	The UKBA will continue its efforts to identify and deport this individual.

Legislation

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what legislation, passed during the 2005-10 Parliament, is the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and has yet to be brought into force, either in full or in part.

Baroness Rawlings: The following table shows the primary legislation passed during the 2005-10 Parliament for which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport was responsible. It indicates that half the Bills passed are now fully in force and half in part.
	
		
			 Primary Legislation passed during the 2005-10 Parliament In force in full or in part? 
			 Gambling Act 2005 (c.19) In part 
			 London Olympic and Paralympic Games Act 2006 (c.12) In part (but the only provisions not in force have been rendered nugatory by subsequent legislation) 
			 National Lottery Act 2006 (c.23) In part 
			 Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (c.36) In full 
			 Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007 (c.8) In full 
			 Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Act 2009 (c.16) [NB Private Members' Bill] In full 
			 Video Recordings Act 2010 (c.1) In full 
			 Digital Economy Act 2010 (c.24) In part

Libya

Lord Kilclooney: To ask Her Majesty's Government which member states of the European Union provided military forces to ensure the no-fly zone over Libya in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1973.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Eight European Union member states provided military forces to enforce the no-fly-zone over Libya in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. The UK, France, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden all contributed strike aircraft. In addition, Greece provided support including the use of air bases and a frigate for the arms embargo, and Romania contributed a frigate to help enforce the arms embargo, but was not involved in enforcing the no-fly zone.
	In total 17 countries were involved in military operations in Libya. The non-European Union countries which contributed assets to enforce the no-fly zone were the United States of America, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Norway. Turkey also provided assets specifically to enforce the arms embargo.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration has been given to gender and ethnic balance on local enterprise partnerships.

Baroness Hanham: We respect the right of local enterprise partnerships to determine the make-up of their own boards. However, there is increasing evidence that diverse perspectives are critical to good governance. The Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities has written to partnerships encouraging them to give due consideration to issues of diversity in any board nomination process.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether research or appraisal has been or is planned to be undertaken on the economic impact of local enterprise partnerships.

Baroness Hanham: Local enterprise partnerships will be directly accountable to local partners, businesses and communities for their activities. This may take different forms and it will be up to local partners to agree scrutiny arrangements that are sufficiently robust and transparent to ensure proper accountability.
	Where local enterprise partnerships receive funding from the Government, grant conditions will be used to ensure proper accountability for those funds including appropriate appraisal and evaluation processes.

Patrick Finucane

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made payments to Madden and Finucane Solicitors in relation to the proposed Patrick Finucane inquiry; and, if so, what amount they have paid in the past five years.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: No payments have been made to Madden and Finucane Solicitors in relation to the Pat Finucane review.

Railways: High Speed 2

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 28 November (WA 30), how many of the 55,000 submissions included in the analysis undertaken by the Department of Transport were supportive of their plans for High Speed 2.

Earl Attlee: The results of the high-speed rail consultation analysis will be published shortly, when the Secretary of State for Transport announces her decisions on high-speed rail.

Railways: High Speed 2

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 28 November (WA 30), whether they will place a copy of the analysis undertaken by the Department of Transport in the Library of the House.

Earl Attlee: Yes; a copy of the high-speed rail consultation response analysis, which has been undertaken by an independent company, Dialogue by Design, will be placed in the Library of the House once published.

Riot (Damages) Act 1886

Baroness Sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many payments have been made to claimants under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 following the riots in August 2011.

Lord Henley: Under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886, applications for compensation are made directly to police authorities. There is no requirement for them to provide this information to the Home Office. Therefore, the precise figures of payments that have already been made to claimants will be held locally by each police authority.

State Recognition

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what role the Montevideo Convention of 1933 has in the decision-making process on whether to recognise a state or country.

Lord Howell of Guildford: My Written Answer of 2 February (Official Report, col. WA 266) set out the criteria for recognition of states. While the UK has not signed or ratified the Montevideo Convention, the criteria that we use for recognition of states reflect those set out in the Montevideo Convention.

Unemployment

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what the unemployment rate for young people and the number of unemployed young people would have been in the last eight quarters if full-time students were excluded from the figures; and why such students are counted as unemployed.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Lord Laird, dated December 2011.
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the unemployment rate for young people and the number of unemployed young people would have been in the last eight quarters if full-time students were excluded from the figures; and why such students are counted as unemployed (HL13996).
	The requested information is in the attached table. Estimates for unemployment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	ONS publishes unemployment figures using an internationally agreed definition as prescribed by the International Labour Organisation. Under this, full-time students count as unemployed if they are actively seeking work and are available to start a job-for example, if they are looking for part-time jobs. The Labour Market Statistical Bulletin gives figures every month on how many unemployed 16 to 24 year-olds are in, or are not in, full-time education.
	
		
			 Unemployment levels and rates for people aged 16 to 24, not in  full-time education1 United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted 
			  Unemployment rate (%) Unemployment level ('000s) 
			 2009 Q4 18.4 646 
			 2010 Q1 19.1 667 
			 2010 Q2 17.9 630 
			 2010 Q3 18.2 650 
			 2010 Q4 19.4 686 
			 2011 Q1 18.3 646 
			 2011 Q2 18.8 671 
			 2011 Q3 20.6 730 
		
	
	Source: Labour Force Survey
	1 Includes people in part-time education and/or some form of training

Water Management: Overseas

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will co-ordinate their support for international water programmes with their objective of improving public health and food supply and meeting the millennium goals.

Baroness Northover: The UK Government are committed to supporting the achievement of all the millennium development goals (MDGs). Our investment in providing poor people with access to improved drinking water supplies and sanitation, and promoting better hygiene make an important contribution towards the water and sanitation MDG target. However, this investment also contributes to several additional MDGs, including improving nutrition, reducing mother and child mortality and empowering women.
	We see it as crucial to ensure that our water and sanitation interventions have a demonstrable impact on health outcomes, particularly in terms of reducing morbidity and mortality associated with diarrhoeal diseases, which are the biggest cause of death of children in Africa. In all countries where we work on water and sanitation, we also support the health sector. We will continue to take an integrated approach to ensure our investment delivers across these closely related sectors.